. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/Q/ARG/12 
6 October 2010 
 (10-5079) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM OF ARGENTINA 
 
Questions from Turkey to Argentina
 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 10 October 2010, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Turkey.  
_______________ 
 
 1.  For a long period of time, the Turkish companies that have export interest to Argentina report significant delays, beyond hundreds of days in  some cases, in obtaining import licenses for 
refrigerators (HS Code 84.18), air conditioners (HS Code 84.15) and washing machines (HS Code 
84.50).   
 
 This trade restricting practice and issue of our concern has been brought to the attention of Argentinian authorities on various occasions.     In the same manner, the WTO Report on the fi nancial and economic crisis and trade-related 
developments (JOB(09)/62) pointed out the fact that such delays could reach up to 200-300 days. 
Likewise, some members raised similar concerns summarized in the official document G/LIC/Q/ARG/10.     2.  It is our understanding that prior to importi ng refrigerators,  air conditioners and washing 
machines, importers must obtain a non-automatic import license
 from the Ministry of Economy and 
Production in line with the  
 - Resolution No. 61 dated 4/III/09. Ministry of  Production. Amended by Resolutions 121/09, 
123/09, 139/09, 251/09 Ministry of Production: R esolution No. 24 of Ministry of Industry and 
Tourism-Effective Date: 26/03/2009 for HS 84.15 & HS 84.18;  
 
- Resolution No. 444 of 5/VII/04. Ministry  of Economy and Production. Amended by 
Resolution No. 177/04, 529/06; 181/08; 329/08, 61/09; 123/09; 251/09 - Effective Date:   07/07/2004 for HS 84.18 and HS 84.50. 
 
 However, in reviewing Argentina's most recent responses to the Questionnaire on Import 
Licensing Procedures (G/LIC/N/3/ARG/5) dated 10 September 2008, we were unable to find any 
specific references to any measures with respect to the products mentioned above.  
 3.  Argentina made the following notifications to the WTO Committee on Import Licensing in compliance with Article 5 of Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures:  
 
- G/LIC/N/2/ARG/4 (5 March 1999) - G/LIC/N/2/ARG/4/Add.1 (19 January 2009) G/LIC/Q/ARG/12 
Page 2  
 
  - G/LIC/N/2/ARG/4/Add.1/Rev.1 (29 April 2009) 
- G/LIC/N/2/ARG/4/Add.2 (1 April 2009)  declaring that the products in question are onl y subject to automatic import licencing procedures
. 
 
4.  With this background, Turkey would like to pose the following questions: 
 
(a) What is the current import licensing procedur e applicable to refrige rators (HS Code 84.18), 
air conditioners (HS Code 84.15) and washing machines (HS Code 84.50)? 
 
(b) Can Argentina provide  detailed information on the legislative framework adopted for import 
licensing procedures for each good concerned? 
 (c)  Does Argentina intend to revise and/or ma ke a new notification to the Committee on Import 
Licensing Procedures in line with her current applications?   
 
(e) Please indicate if and how Argentina considers her import licensing practices comply with her 
WTO obligations. 
 (f) Do Argentinian authorities re-consider taking st eps to align domestic practices with the WTO 
obligations of Argentina? 
 
(g) When Argentina could provide responses to the Questionnaire on Import Licensing 
specifically for the procedures for the listed products for 2009 and 2010.  
  
 
__________